Question: The other day you had a basket full of autographed baseballs that you won at a silent auction and you said you've been collecting them for a while now. How did you get started doing that?

Answer: Probably in 2008, my first full year with the Angels. I remember us playing against teams like the Yankees and when they'd come to town, I thought to myself, "Man, it would be really cool to get a Roger Clemens-signed baseball." Him, and other guys. So I asked the visiting clubhouse guy and he said it wouldn't be a problem. I even told the guy, "Look, I'd be grateful for them to sign it. You can let them know I'm not going to sell it or anything like that." Everybody signed for me and it was really awesome so I just kept doing it from there.

Q: Is that right? So it's like a real collection now?

A: Oh, yeah. When I made the All-Star Game (in 2008), I had everybody from the team sign an individual ball and I've picked up some real good ones. I've probably got over 60 baseballs now, everything from Sandy Koufax to even some future Hall of Famers like Jim Thome. I'm a big fan of pitchers, though, so I've got guys like Pedro (Martinez), Johan Santana, Roger Clemens, Andy Pettitte - all the guys I looked up to and idolized as a kid.

Q: Very cool. But you didn't ask Clemens, personally? You had a clubbie do it for you? Is that a big-league move?

A: Not really. It was more a matter of opportunity. It's obviously hard to go over to the other team's clubhouse and ask somebody, "Hey, would you sing my baseball?" It's a little bit awkward. But some guys are nice about it.

Q: Really? Like who?

A: Well, we were in San Francisco and (Angels announcer) Rex Hudler was Randy Johnson's roommate when he was in Montreal, so I asked Rex if he wouldn't mind introducing me to Randy and have him sign some things. I know Randy's kind of a stickler about that stuff, but Huddy and I walked over and I met Randy and we started talking.

Q: So did he sign anything for you?

A: Yeah, he signed a baseball and he personalized a jersey for me, too. You best believe that's going up on the wall. That ball is probably the best one I've got, just because I got to talk to him. That makes it pretty special.

Q: OK, here's a tough one. Does Clemens belong in the Hall of Fame?

A: Honestly, I think they all should be in the Hall of Fame. It's just a shame there's this taint about the stuff that they supposedly did. The all-time hits leader isn't in. The all-time home run hitter, a question mark. One of the best pitchers ever, a question mark. For Clemens and (Barry) Bonds and Pete Rose, arguably three of the top 10 players of all time to not be in the Hall of Fame, it's a pretty damn shame in my opinion.

Q: Have you ever heard from the fans grumbling about the steroids era and how it makes them feel about the game?

A: Not really, but I'd tell them the same thing I told you, that it's just a shame. It was a different time in baseball. Who knows? Back in the '20s and '30s, a lot of other stuff could have been tainted that no one ever knew about.

Q: Maybe. Say, if you could go back in time and pitch to anyone, who would it be?

A: Oh, that's kind of an easy choice for me.

Q: Babe Ruth?

A: Yeah. He's still, in my opinion, always going to be the face of baseball for all time. Hands down, it's Babe Ruth. There's not even a question about it. The guy won over 100 games as a pitcher and hit over 700 home runs as a hitter. There's no even debate about it in my mind.